Plus as always, ‘House Band’ : THE WURZELS!

Many more acts including all three headliners still to be announced

CAST & MELANIE C ADDED TO WATCHET 2018 LINE UP!

OVER 80% OF WEEKEND CAMPING TICKETS NOW SOLD

ALL 3 MAIN STAGE HEADLINERS STILL TO BE ANNOUNCED

WATCHETLIVE C.I.C, the organisers of WATCHET LIVE FESTIVAL are proud to announce three iconic British acts for 2018; Melanie C, Cast and Hazel O’Connor!

Melanie Jayne Chisholm, aka Melanie C is one of the most successful British recording artists of all time. As a solo artist, Melanie has released seven solo albums, notching up over 10 million album sales worldwide, alongside two UK Number 1 singles and six top 10‘s. Her debut album Northern Star, released in 1999, sold 4 million copies worldwide and went triple platinum in the UK.

Taking into account her work with the Spice Girls (who’s first single, “Wannabe” reached number 1 in 37 countries), Melanie C has sold more than 105 million records, co-written 11 UK Number 1s (more than any other female artist in chart history), and remains the only female performer to top the UK charts as a solo artist and as part of a duo, quartet and quintet.

Cast are undeniably deserving of the moniker ‘Britpop Legends’. Led by former La’s Bassist John Power, guitarist Liam ‘Skin’ Tyson and drummer Keith O’Neill are joined by former La’s member Jay Lewis on bass.
Cast’s debut album All Change is widely regarded as one of the classic Britpop albums. Released in October 1995, the album shot to No 7 in the UK charts, reaching double platinum. It went on to become the fastest selling debut album in the history of Polydor, outselling The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Who and The Jam. A further two singles taken from the album; “Sandstorm” and “Walkaway” both went Top 10. Cast’s second album Mother Nature Calls was released April 1997. Peaking at No. 3, it went platinum and stayed in the Top 40 for over 6 months. The album spawned three top ten hits in “Free Me”, “Guiding Star” and “Live the Dream. Since reforming in 2010, the band have released two studio albums and toured extensively in the UK and overseas.

Also announced is renowned singer-songwriter and actress Hazel O’Connor, who will headline the Udder stage on Saturday. With a career spanning more than 30 years, She became famous in the early 1980s with hit singles “Eighth Day”, “D-Days” and “Will You”, as well as starring in the film Breaking Glass. Since then she’s gone on to record more than 20 studio albums and appeared regularly on stage and screen, Her theatre work includes One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest at the Royal Exchange, Manchester, Nightshoot at the Tricycle Theatre, and London, Swing Out Sister, (her own production) at the Riverside Studio, London.
Cast, Melanie C and Hazel O’Connor will join previously announced acts Aswad, Dub Pistols, Ferocious Dog, From The Jam, Kioko Mesh, Faerground Accidents and RSVP at Watchet Festival 2018. Many more acts, including all three headliners, are still yet to be announced!

After fifteen albums and two decades on the music scene, Aswad remains one of Britain’s best-loved reggae bands. The duo of Drummie Zeb and Tony Gadd are renowned among reggae fans for their adventurous fusion of musical styles such as dancehall, funk, hip-hop and dub.

In 1988, Aswad earned international acclaim with their reggae version of “Don’t Turn Around,” which sailed to No. 1 in the U.K. Charts. Their 1994 album Rise & Shine saw the band’s first Grammy nomination for ‘Reggae Album of the Year’, and also gave the band another No.1 hit with now famous summer reggae anthem ‘Shine.’

The Dub Pistols return to Watchet by popular demand, after their triumphant headline performance back in 2014. Led by indefatigable south-Londoner Barry Ashworth, they have lived every rock ’n’ roll cliché more vividly, knowingly and hilariously than almost any other British band. Yet having worked with heroes like The Specials, Madness and Gregory Isaacs they are busier than ever, having reinvented themselves as the ultimate Festival band.

Watchet Festival are also very proud to have booked From The Jam, as the organisers have received more requests for them than any other band! Fronted by the legendary Bruce Foxton, they will bring their unique punk / mod sound to the main stage on Friday, performing hits such as That’s Entertainment, Going Underground and Town Called Malice

Watchet LIVE Festival is a not-for-profit family festival with amazing views of the West Somerset coastline and beyond. Three live stages host more than 60 live acts, bringing a wide range of high-calibre musical acts not normally found performing in West Somerset, at a very affordable price.

Watchet 2018 is set to continue the festival’s tradition of completely selling out in advance. Those wishing to camp on site are particularly encouraged to buy their tickets as soon as possible. Camping is now eighty percent sold, with over half of all weekend non-camping tickets also sold.

Alongside a wide variety of high quality food stalls, the extensive in-house Cider and Real Ale Bar prices are always kept as low as possible, providing one of the best-value refreshments offerings to be found at any event in the UK.

Returning after a fallow year following a completely sold-out-in-advance 10th Anniversary in 2016, Watchet LIVE Festival will once again make financial donations to local charity groups including The Children’s Hospice South West, Elliot’s Touch, and the “Stand Against Speed 4 Bethany”

Watchet Live CIC, the community charity behind Watchet Live Festival, are recipients of the 2017 Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service; the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK.

Line up Annoncement

ASWAD | DUB PISTOLSFEROCIOUS DOG | FROM THE JAMKioko | Mesh | Faerground Accidents | RSVP
Many more acts including all three headliners still to be announced

OVER 50% OF TICKETS ALREADY SOLD

WATCHETLIVE C.I.C, the organisers of WATCHET LIVE FESTIVAL are proud to announce that Aswad, Dub Pistols, Ferocious Dog, From The Jam, Kioko Mesh, Faerground Accidents and RSVP have all been added to the line up for their 2018 Festival. Many more acts, including all headliners, are still yet to come!

After fifteen albums and two decades on the music scene, Aswad remains one of Britain’s best-loved reggae bands. The duo of Drummie Zeb and Tony Gadd are renowned among reggae fans for their adventurous fusion of musical styles such as dancehall, funk, hip-hop and dub.
In 1988, Aswad earned international acclaim with their reggae version of “Don’t Turn Around,” which sailed to No. 1 in the U.K. Charts. Their 1994 album Rise & Shine saw the band’s first Grammy nomination for ‘Reggae Album of the Year’, and also gave the band another No.1 hit with now famous summer reggae anthem ‘Shine.’ Aswad have toured extensively, playing to packed houses in diverse locales from London’s Royal Albert Hall and Montego Bay’s Reggae Sunsplash, to gigs in West Africa, Israel and Japan.

The Dub Pistols return to Watchet by popular demand, after their triumphant headline performance back in 2014. Led by indefatigable south-Londoner Barry Ashworth, they have lived every rock ’n’ roll cliché more vividly, knowingly and hilariously than almost any other British band. They’ve burned through record labels, band members, and hundreds of thousands of pounds with their almost heroic devotion to hedonism. Yet they have worked with heroes like The Specials, Busta Rhymes, Madness and Gregory Isaacs and The Dub Pistols are busier than ever, having reinvented themselves as the ultimate Festival band; the go-to act to get a big crowd dancing.

Fiercely independent Folk-Punk festival stalwarts Ferocious Dog also make a return to Watchet, having first performed on the main stage way back in 2012. Since then they have gone from strength to strength: selling out venues across the country (including Nottingham’s prestigious Rock City), performing on Billy Bragg’s Left Field Stage at Glastonbury; touring extensively with the Levellers, and releasing three studio albums. They also found time to recruit long-time friend of Watchet Festival and former USM frontman Les Carter as their guitarist!

We are also very proud to announce From The Jam. Fronted by the legendary Bruce Foxton, they will bring their unique punk / mod sound to the main stage on Friday, performing hits such as That’s Entertainment, Going Underground and Town Called Malice.